U.S. patent application number 11/801814 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-22 for sleeve for securing a cable in a connector.
Invention is credited to Kim Eriksen.
Application Number | 20070270032 11/801814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38712520 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070270032 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eriksen; Kim |
November 22, 2007 |
Sleeve for securing a cable in a connector
Abstract
To ensure stable physical and electrical contact between an
exposed outer conductor of a cable and a compression sleeve, which
has two sections, where the first section is disposed around the
jacket of the cable, while the second section is disposed around
the outer conductor of the cable, which is corrugated, and where
the shield and the jacket of the cable are mounted in a connector
formed by a front nut and a connector body, screwing together of
the front nut and connector body will cause the compression sleeve
to be clamped tightly to the outer conductor, as a compression ring
is disposed around the second section, said compression ring has
coned or ramped surfaces on the sleeve, said coned or ramped
surfaces being disposed at the free end of the first section and at
the transition between the first section and the second
section.
Inventors: |
Eriksen; Kim; (Vordingborg,
DK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PPC, A DIVISIONOF JOHN MEZZALINGUA ASSC., INC.
6176 EAST MOLLOY RD.
E. SYRACUSE
NY
13057-0278
US
|
Family ID: |
38712520 |
Appl. No.: |
11/801814 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/59 20130101;
H01R 13/5825 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/578 |
International
Class: |
H01R 9/05 20060101
H01R009/05 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 18, 2006 |
DK |
PA 2006 00693 |
Claims
1. A sleeve for securing a cable in a connector, said cable having
an outer jacket below which an outer conductor is provided, said
connector being formed by a front nut and a connector body, said
sleeve having two sections, a first section which encloses a
portion of the outer conductor of the cable whose surface is
corrugated, and a second section of which encloses a jacket
enclosing the cable in extension of the first section,
characterized in that the first section is enclosed by a
compression ring which, when the front nut is screwed together with
the connector body, presses the first section of the sleeve against
the outer conductor.
2. A sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the free
end of the first section of the sleeve is configured as a cone, and
that the transition between the first section and the second
section is configured as a cone.
3. A sleeve according to claim 2, characterized in that the
compression ring is configured with cone faces which adjoin the
cone faces of the second section.
4. A sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the first
section, at its outer area, has an inner rounded portion which
corresponds to an outer rounded portion of the exposed outer
conductor.
5. A sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the entire
inner surface of the first section has the same geometry as the
outer surface of the exposed outer conductor.
6. A sleeve according to claim 4, characterized in that its
cone-shaped part, at the free end, is terminated by a projection
defining a hole which has the same diameter as the hole in the free
end of the outer conductor.
7. A sleeve according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner
surface of the second section is formed with a projection.
8. A connector for coupling an end of a coaxial cable, the coaxial
cable having a center conductor surrounded by a dielectric
material, the dielectric surrounded by a corrugated outer
conductor, the corrugated outer conductor surrounded by a jacket,
the connector comprising: a connector body having a first end and a
second end, the connector body having an internal passageway
defined therein, the connector body further having a first surface
proximate the second end for engaging a compression sleeve; a
compression sleeve disposed within the internal passageway of the
connector body, the compression sleeve having a first compression
sleeve section having a first section passageway configured to
receive the corrugated outer conductor and a second compression
sleeve section having a second section passageway defined therein,
the second section passageway further having an annular projection
configured to engage the jacket; a compression ring disposed within
the internal passageway, the compression ring having a compression
ring passageway, a portion of the compression sleeve disposed
within the compression ring passageway, the compression ring
passageway having a transitional opening at one end; and, a nut
threadably secured to the first end of the connector body, whereby
axial advancement of the nut towards the second end of the
connector body axially advances the compression ring towards the
compression sleeve which causes the second compression sleeve
section to engage the first surface, and upon further axial
advancement of the compression ring simultaneously causes the
annular projection to compress the coaxial cable jacket and the
transitional opening to compress the first compression sleeve
section to the corrugated outer conductor.
9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the compression ring has a
first compression ring ramped surface configured to compress a
first compression sleeve ramped surface and a second compression
ring ramped surface configured to compress a second compression
sleeve ramped surface.
10. The connector of claim 8, the compression sleeve having at
least one slot extending along a longitudinal axis.
11. A method of attaching a connector having an internal passageway
to a coaxial cable, the coaxial cable having a center conductor
surrounded by a corrugated outer conductor, the corrugated outer
conductor surrounded by a jacket, the connector comprising: a
compression sleeve and a compression ring disposed within the
internal passageway, the method comprising the steps of: inserting
an end of the coaxial cable into the connector; threading the
corrugated outer conductor into the compression sleeve; axially
advancing the compression ring along a longitudinal axis, whereby
axial advancement of the compression ring causes the compression
sleeve to simultaneously compress the outer conductor and the
jacket radially inwardly.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of axially advancing
the compression ring further includes compressing the compression
sleeve with a first surface disposed within the internal
passageway
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of axially advancing
the compression ring further includes compressing the jacket with
an arcuate projection disposed within the compression sleeve.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of axially advancing
the compression ring further includes compressing the outer
conductor with a transitional opening formed within the compression
sleeve.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a compression sleeve for securing a
cable in a connector, the cable having a jacket below which an
outer conductor is provided, the connector being formed by a
connector body and a front nut, the compression sleeve having two
sections, a first section or first end of which encloses a portion
of the outer conductor whose surface is corrugated, and a second
section or second end of which encloses the jacket enclosing the
cable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When transmitting HF signals through cables that are
connected by connectors in which the center conductor and the outer
conductor of the cable are stripped of insulation, it is very
important that quite stable, electrical conditions prevail inside
the connector. These electrical conditions must not change even
when the cable is subjected to mechanical impacts, e.g. in the
vicinity of the connector.
[0003] In particular, it is important that the outer conductor of
the cable cannot move relative to the holding means that are
present inside the connector. Such holding means may be a
compression sleeve having two sections. The first section or first
end of the compression sleeve encloses the outer conductor of the
cable, while the second section or second end encloses the jacket
of the cable. As a threaded front nut is screwed together with the
connector body, the compression sleeve exerts a pressure against
the cable.
[0004] In a prior art compression sleeve, the pressure is exerted
against the cable jacket by projections arranged on the inner side
of the second section or second end of the compression sleeve,
which may have the unfortunate effect that the first section or
first end of the compression sleeve does not obtain a sufficient
grip around the outer conductor. This may mean that if the portion
of the cable disposed near the connector is subjected to physical
impacts, the compression sleeve may be disengaged partly from the
outer conductor. This means that the electrical conditions change,
causing wrong signal transmission through the cable.
[0005] Accordingly, an objection of the invention is to provide a
compression sleeve where the above-mentioned drawbacks are
remedied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The object of the invention is achieved by a compression
sleeve which is characterized in that the first section or first
end of the compression sleeve is enclosed by a compression ring
which, when the front nut is threaded together with the connector
body, presses the first section or first end of the compression
sleeve against the outer conductor of the cable.
[0007] This ensures a very firm and stable grip around the outer
conductor which cannot be changed by physical impacts exerted
against the portion of the cable which is disposed near the
connector.
[0008] The first section or first end of the compression sleeve is
configured as a coned or ramped surface and the transition between
the first section or first end and the second section or second end
is configured as a coned or ramped surface. When the compression
ring is formed with a coned or ramped surface that adjoins the
coned or ramped surface of the first section or first end, a great
clamping force is achieved from the compression sleeve against both
the cable jacket and the outer conductor.
[0009] To enhance the contact between the compression sleeve and
the outer conductor of the cable, it is advantageous that the first
section or first end of the compression sleeve have an inner,
rounded portion that corresponds to the corrugated portion of the
outer conductor. In other words, the entire inner surface of the
first section or first end of the compression sleeve has the same
geometry as the outer surface of the exposed outer conductor.
[0010] To ensure that the compression sleeve cannot slide axially
relative to the outer conductor, it is advantageous that the coned
or ramped surface at the first section or first end of the
compression sleeve terminate by a projection defining a hole which
has the same diameter as the hole in the free end of the exposed
outer conductor.
[0011] Finally, it is expedient that the inner surface of the
second section or second end of the compression sleeve is formed
with a projection, which ensures damping of vibrations from the
cable, when it is manipulated in the vicinity of the connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a cable before it is secured to a connector,
which has a known compression sleeve for securing the cable.
[0013] FIG. 2 depicts the cable of FIG. 1 mounted in the
connector.
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a cable before it is secured to a connector,
the connector having a compression sleeve according to the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts the cable of FIG. 3 mounted in the
connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the numeral 1 designates a cable for
the transmission of HF signals, e.g. for mobile telephony.
[0017] The cable 1 has a jacket 2 which encloses an outer conductor
3 with corrugated portions 4, which in turn encloses the center
conductor 5 of the cable, a dielectric (not shown) being provided
between the center conductor 5 and the outer conductor 3.
[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a prior art compression sleeve 6 made of
metal, which has a first section or first end 6a and a second
section or second end 6b. The compression sleeve is intended to
secure the cable in a connector, which is composed of a connector
body 7 and a front nut 11 which may be assembled by threads 10.
[0019] When the front nut 11 and connector body 7 are screwed
together, surface 13 of second section or second end 6 will engage
a first surface on connector body 7. Projections 8 and 9 on the
inner side of the second section or second end 6b of the
compression sleeve 6 will exert a pressure against jacket 2 of
cable 1, while a pressure will be exerted against the first section
or first end 6a in an axial direction toward the outer conductor
3.
[0020] If the jacket 2 of cable 1 in the vicinity of the connector
is subjected to mechanical impacts, this may cause the compression
sleeve 6 in the first section or first end 6a to lose contact,
which in turn means that the electrical characteristic of the cable
1 near the outer conductor 3 will be unstable at an engagement face
12 between the outer conductor 3 and the first section or first end
6a of the compression sleeve 6.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be explained how the
present invention avoids this electrical instability.
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a compression sleeve 14 of the present
invention that has a first section or first end 14a and a second
section or second end 14b. The inner face of the first section or
first end 14a has corrugated portion or second surface 18 with the
same geometry as the corrugated portions 4 of outer conductor 3.
The inner surface of the second section or second end 14a has
arranged thereon an annular projection 22 that is capable of
pressing against the jacket 2 of cable 1. Compression sleeve 14 has
at least one slot 24 to increase compressive action.
[0023] A compression ring 15 of metal is mounted externally on the
first section or first end 14a, compression ring 15 having a
compression ring passageway 27 which fits for engagement with the
outer surface of the first section or first end 14a. At the end
facing the second section or second end 14b of compression sleeve
14, the compression ring 15 has a coned or second compression ring
ramped surface 17 which adjoins a coned or second compression
sleeve ramped surface 23 on the second section or second end
14b.
[0024] At the opposite end of the second section, compression ring
15 has an additional coned or first compression ring ramped surface
21 which adjoins a coned or first compression sleeve ramped surface
20 of the first section or first end 14a of compression sleeve
14.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, compression ring passageway 27 has a
transitional opening 19 which is disposed in extension of the coned
or first compression ring ramped surface 21 and extends inwards
toward the axis of cable 1, so that the transitional opening 19
forms a hole with a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of
the outer conductor 3.
[0026] It will now be explained how the cable 1 is inserted into
the connector. The compression sleeve 14 with the compression ring
15 is pushed inwards over cable 1, so that the compression sleeve
second section or second end 14b with an annular projection 22
encloses the cable jacket 2. Meanwhile, first section or first end
14a of compression sleeve 14 encloses outer conductor 3.
[0027] When the front nut 11 is screwed together with connector
body 7, surface 16 of second section or second end 14b of
compression sleeve engages a first surface 26 on connector body 7.
Compression sleeve 14 applies pressure against the cable jacket 2
at annular projection 22 and at area 18, while the transitional
opening 19 presses the first section or first end 14a of the
compression sleeve 14 tightly against the outer conductor 3. Outer
conductor 3 will thus be secured firmly and immovably in the
connector.
[0028] While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments
of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of
modifications, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to precise
details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and
alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.
* * * * *